Colloidally stable organic–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles prepared using alkoxysilane-functionalized amphiphilic polymer precursors and mechanical properties of their cured coating film

Colloidally stable organic–inorganic (O–I) hybrid nanoparticles could be prepared using an alkoxysilane-functionalized amphiphilic polymer (AFAP) precursor. O–I hybrid sols could maintain colloidal stability for six months even at 45% solid content and be coated onto glass as well as PET film to form transparent O–I hybrid films. The formation of O–I hybrid nanoparticles dispersed in cured coating films could be confirmed using scanning electron microscopy. The cured coating film showed 3H and 5H pencil hardness on PET and glass, respectively. Nanoindentation measurements also showed that their modulus and hardness was varied with the type of AFAP used in its preparation